Murphy in race for attorney general

Former Bucks congressman seeks to end four-decade GOP hold on the office.

April 20, 2011|By John L. Micek, CALL HARRISBURG BUREAU

HARRISBURG — — Looking to break a four-decade Republican lock on the office, Former U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy of Bucks County on Wednesday declared his candidacy for state attorney general in 2012.

Murphy says he doesn't mind the long odds.

"I was only the second Democrat to hold my seat in Bucks County and the first Iraq War veteran to win and serve in the U.S. Congress," said Murphy, who represented Pennsylvania's 8th District on Capitol Hill from 2006 to 2010, when he was defeated in a rematch by current GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick.

"Pennsylvanians need someone to stand up for them, to protect them from criminals in the street, to protect our most vulnerable," he said. "And they need an outsider to Harrisburg who will root out corruption."

Murphy praised Gov. Tom Corbett's prosecution — while attorney general — of the Bonusgate public corruption case, which has resulted in the conviction of one former lawmaker and the arrests of two dozen people formerly associated with the House Democratic and Republican caucuses.

"I want to be very clear: If there is a crime committed, I could care less if it is Democrat or Republican," Murphy said. "I want to bring about justice."

At least two Democrats, Dan McCaffery of Philadelphia and Lackawanna County prosecutor Kathleen Granahan Kane, have been mentioned for the seat, which will be open for the first time since Corbett defeated Democrat Jim Eisenhower in 2004 and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli in 2008.

Murphy, a lawyer whose father was a Philadelphia police officer, said he welcomed a potential primary.

"When I ran in 2006, I had $322 in my bank account. I literally went through three pairs of shoes," he said, adding, "I am going to go to all 67 counties. And I'll probably wear out three sets of tires."

Two of Murphy's fellow Congressional Democrats, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia and U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17th District, are supporting his candidacy. In a statement, Holden, whose district includes Schuylkill County and part of Berks, called Murphy "a working-class guy who didn't forget where he came from … He really understands what it takes to fight crime and protect Pennsylvania families."

Corbett has named Republican Linda Kelly to serve the remainder of his term as attorney general. Pending her confirmation, William Ryan Jr. is serving on an interim basis.

Candidates are already positioning themselves for bids for the state's other elected row offices. Earlier this month, state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, a Democrat from York County, announced an exploratory committee for a bid for auditor general.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for the post. Current Auditor General Jack Wagner is serving out his second and final term.

Since leaving office last year, Murphy has split his time between teaching at Widener University Law School in Harrisburg and working in the litigation practice of the statewide law firm of Fox Rothschild.